Electric iron



J. w. sTEELE Dec. 5, 1939.

ELECTRIC IRON Filed Dec. 5, 1938 nch- INVENTOR J 1 1 J'zee/c,

ATTORNEY PatentedDec. 5, 19319 UNITED STATES.

PATIENT OFFIXCE amass: r

. snsc'rarc mos James W. Steele, North Kansas (my, Mo. Application December 5, 193a, seruu'no. zupss 3 Claims. (01. 219-25) 1 The present invention relates to improvements in electrically heated irons, such as the type of iron used for laundry operations, and the primary object in-view is to provide a more eillcient relation of the heating element in ,the iron,in order to distribute the effect of the heating element to all portions oi the base or sole plate of the iron which it is possible to utilize ,ior the ironing function of the device.

In this connection, it is also sought to devise a combination of base or sole plate of improved design in connection with the heating element therein, for the purpose of improving the outline or bottom margin of the iron so as to enable it to be operated more easily and smoothly in sidewise directions as well as in forward or rearward directions.

A further object of the invention is to provide an iron construction having an electric heating element, the cord attaching means for which are substantially built into the heating element, thereby eliminating many other disadvantages in the common type of iron which are subject to areing and also have a tendency to work loose, with the trouble always resulting from such defects.

With the foregoing general objects in view, the invention will now be described by reference to the accompanying drawing illustrating a preferred type of construction which I have devised a for embodying the present improvements, after which those features and combinations deemed to be patentable will be particularly set forth and claimed.

In the drawinga Figure l is a side elevation illustrating an electrically heated iron having embodied therein the present features of improvement;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the sole plate portion of the iron detached from the remainder of the 0 iron, and on a slightly larger scale;

Figures 3 and 4 are longitudinal and transverse sections taken on the lines 3-4 and 4-4, respectively, oi. Figure 2; i I V Figure 5 is a perspective view of the type of a electric heating element used in the construction. Referring now to the drawing in detail, this illustrates my improved iron construction as comprising a base or sole plate member Ill, upon which is mounted the upper iron portion i2, which is adapted to be secured to the base portion by means 01' suitable screws 44 and I4 threaded into tapped sockets II in the sole plate II. The screw it also serves, along with another screw It,

5 for the attachment of a handle it appliedto the upper end of said screws l4 and Ii and secured by means of nuts 20, as illustrated in Figure 1.

The top face of the base or sole plate It is cut out to provide a channel 22 of an appropriate design, as illustrated in Figure 2, for accommoi dating the heating element as well as the cement and packing material 24 which is packed around the part of said element which is embedded in the iron. Foreflecting the heating function, I have found a heating element of the type commercially known as the Calrod element illustrated fully in Figure 5, this element, as is generally known, being comprised of a central current conducting core 25 and a casing 28 of protective as well as heat conducting and radiating material-see Fig- 18 ures 3 and 4. The core portion 25 of the element is provided with screw terminals 21, which in the present construction are utilized as convenient means of direct attachment of the current conducting means 30. I

As illustrated in Figure 2, the shape .or contour of the channel 22 in the upper face of the sole plate .10 is designed to accommodate the element 26 in the coiled form shown in Figure 5, which is that arrangement of the heating element best adapted to locate it in its most efiective functional relation to the working face of the sole plate, i. e., at all points both with reference to the bottom surface of the iron but also the outer margins of the sole plate, including the areas 30 adjacent to the extreme ends or points ID of the I sole plate. By reference to Figures 2 and 5 it will be noted that the heating element as well as I the channel 22 for embedding said element are I both in approximately oval form for extending in 5 approximate conformity to the outer margin of the sole plate i0, and the end portions of the heating element are extended in re-entrant relation to its main coil portion, so as to be in heating relation to the central part of the sole plate, as indio cated at 26', and moreover the extreme ends or terminals 21 are arranged in upstandingrelation so as to project up through suitable=openings provided in the top portion l2 and leave the terminals in projecting relation for the attachment of the heating cord 30 to the terminals 2'! by means oi! suitable nuts 32, as shown in Figure 1. The attached portion of the cord 30 may be shielded in the usual manner by means of a housing 34 attached at 35 to the top member I! of the iron, the cord having the usual reinforcing coil device 36 as-shown in Figure 1.

Referring to the advantages 0! the improved construction above described, one of the most important features is in the provision of a double ing operative portion of the working face of the iron, out practicallyto the extreme marginal edge thereof.

Another advantageous feature is in the particular shape or contourof the sole plate, having its lateral curves following'such a contour as to permit easy and even movement of the iron by the operator in either sidewise direction, in contrast to the usual shape which is not adapted for convenient movement in such directions, on' ac- 20. count of the square or blunt shape of the heel portion of the iron. With the improved shape as illustrated, the operator can move the iron either rearwardly or in a combined rearward.

or sidewise movement, but with the 'same facility as as in any other operative direction, which is an important item of efliciency in many of the necessary laundry finishing operations.

The same improved shape of the sole plate or base member of the iron is of course just as so 'readily applicable to other than the electrically heated typeof iron, as for example with steam heated irons, with suitable provision for holes or openings in the sole plate, or withoutsuch provision as to holes, where a booster is provided for low pressure steam in order to give dry steam \l in the ironing operation.

The use of an electrical heating element of the I type herein described has the further advantages of eliminating the use of the usual type of cord are likely to come loose, and often result in sparking or arcing, or inefllcient circuit connections producing inefil'cient heating of the iron. The simple form of heating element as well as the provision for making connection with the heat water in a vessel, since the iron may be dipped in theliquid below the level ofthe liquid to any extent so'long as said level does not exclaim to be new connections, using slip contacting devices whichheating current also enables the iron to be used,. if desired, as a liquid heating means, such as to 2,1s2,oa s u tend above the terminals 21 of the heating ele-- ment, and without any danger of short circuiting whatever.

It will therefore be seen that I have provided a practical and efllcient form of construction, as well as iron design, adapted to carry into eflect all the objects of my invention, and while I have illustrated and described what I now regard as a mostpractical embodiment of the improved construction, I desire to reserve the right to make whatever changes or modifications may fairly fall within the spirit and scope of my invention as defined by the following claims.

Having thus described ,my invention, what I and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A hand iron having a base or sole plate portion of approximately oval, form provided with pointed or nose portions at its opposite ends, and an electric heating element imbedded in said base portion and comprising a coil extending parallel and-in close heating relation to the edge of said base portion entirely around the iron, the terminals of said heatingelement extending upwardly and completely to the exterior of the iron for making direct connection with the source of the heating current.

' 2. A hand iron having an electric coil in its base portion, said coil being arranged in a major coil outline extending adjacent to the outer margin of the base portion and substantially the same distance from said margin entirely around said base portion, the end portions of said coll extending within the outline of the major portion-in heating relation to the central working face of the base portion and providing-terminals for connection with the source of the heating current.

3. A hand iron having a base or sole plate portion of approximately oval form provided with pointed or nose portions at its opposite ends, and an-electric heating coil having its main coil portion extending in close heating relation to the edge of said base portion entirely around the iron and its terminal portions arranged in close heating relation to the central working face of saidbase portion and providing terminals for direct connection with the-source of the heating current. I a

. JAMES W; STEELE. 

